What Is It?
2006 Lincoln Zephyr
What's Special About It?
Lincoln makes its first entrance into the entry-level luxury midsize sedan segment with the all-new Lincoln Zephyr. The Zephyr, upscale twin to the new Ford Fusion, offers a simple, elegant exterior trimmed with established Lincoln-Mercury design cues, including the traditional waterfall grille flanked by projector beam or optional high-intensity discharge headlamps. Chrome trim flows along the beltline and caps the sideview mirrors, and wide-set twin tailpipes sit beneath the short rear deck lid.
Natural materials complement the Zephyr's cabin in four distinctive variations, including ribbed aluminum, dark Ebony wood and light maple wood. Controls are illuminated in white light, providing a warm glow. Five-passenger leather seating is covered in soft leather, and a 60/40-split rear seat with pass-through offers increased functionality.
Proving that the Zephyr is intended not only to enter the luxury market, but to actually compete, Lincoln offers a variety of features, including a new DVD-based touchscreen navigation system and THX II-Certified audio system. An analog clock nestles at the top of the center stack, a stylish complement to the advanced technology.
Underneath the sheet metal is a new four-wheel independent suspension poised to provide a dynamic driving experience. A 210-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine is shared with the Fusion, as well as the larger, heavier Mercury Montego. Increased performance and notable fuel economy (estimated at 30 mph highway) is the result of a six-speed automatic transmission, a rare offering in a midsize sedan.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Besides being a good-looking car, the Zephyr also has smart packaging on its side. The rear seat offers exceptional legroom, better than the Mazda 6 which shares the Zephyr platform, plus there's plenty of trunk space as well. Again, as with too many Ford sedan products, the shortcoming is power. Two hundred ten horsepower may sound acceptable as a stand-alone figure, but when you consider that the Cadillac CTS makes 255 hp and the Acura TL is rated at 270 hp, the Zephyr's power rating pales by comparison. — Kelly Toepke
2006 Lincoln Zephyr
What's Special About It?
Lincoln makes its first entrance into the entry-level luxury midsize sedan segment with the all-new Lincoln Zephyr. The Zephyr, upscale twin to the new Ford Fusion, offers a simple, elegant exterior trimmed with established Lincoln-Mercury design cues, including the traditional waterfall grille flanked by projector beam or optional high-intensity discharge headlamps. Chrome trim flows along the beltline and caps the sideview mirrors, and wide-set twin tailpipes sit beneath the short rear deck lid.
Natural materials complement the Zephyr's cabin in four distinctive variations, including ribbed aluminum, dark Ebony wood and light maple wood. Controls are illuminated in white light, providing a warm glow. Five-passenger leather seating is covered in soft leather, and a 60/40-split rear seat with pass-through offers increased functionality.
Proving that the Zephyr is intended not only to enter the luxury market, but to actually compete, Lincoln offers a variety of features, including a new DVD-based touchscreen navigation system and THX II-Certified audio system. An analog clock nestles at the top of the center stack, a stylish complement to the advanced technology.
Underneath the sheet metal is a new four-wheel independent suspension poised to provide a dynamic driving experience. A 210-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine is shared with the Fusion, as well as the larger, heavier Mercury Montego. Increased performance and notable fuel economy (estimated at 30 mph highway) is the result of a six-speed automatic transmission, a rare offering in a midsize sedan.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Besides being a good-looking car, the Zephyr also has smart packaging on its side. The rear seat offers exceptional legroom, better than the Mazda 6 which shares the Zephyr platform, plus there's plenty of trunk space as well. Again, as with too many Ford sedan products, the shortcoming is power. Two hundred ten horsepower may sound acceptable as a stand-alone figure, but when you consider that the Cadillac CTS makes 255 hp and the Acura TL is rated at 270 hp, the Zephyr's power rating pales by comparison. — Kelly Toepke
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